πόνος (ponos)
ponos
travail
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun ponos describes intense physical labour or toil, often carrying the weight of hardship and exhaustion. In Colossians 4:13, it refers to the strenuous effort Epaphras exerts for the believers, highlighting a fatigue that goes beyond ordinary work. The word captures the heavy burden of struggle, whether in manual labour or spiritual warfare.
Its meaning extends into suffering and distress, particularly in Revelation. In chapters 16 and 21, it denotes the pain and anguish associated with divine judgment and the eventual removal of sorrow. This usage reflects its Old Testament background, where it often translates Hebrew terms for vanity or painful toil, emphasizing the wearying consequence of a broken world.
Etymologically linked to the concept of pressing or exertion, ponos underscores the cost of effort. Translators render it as "travail," "toil," or "pain" depending on context. It reminds readers that true labour often involves significant struggle, yet this same word points toward a future where such suffering is no more.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word ponos describes a deep, exhausting toil that goes beyond simple effort. It captures the heavy weight of struggle, whether in physical labour or spiritual dedication. In Colossians 4:13, Paul speaks of Epaphras’s great zeal, noting the intense strain he endures for the believers. This shows that faithful service often comes with a cost, involving real fatigue and hardship.
Yet this word also points to a profound hope found in Revelation 21:4. There, God promises to wipe away every tear and remove pain entirely. The struggles we face now are temporary, but the relief He offers is eternal. We can bring our weariness to Him, trusting that He sees our efforts and will one day restore all things.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pain1×
- labour1×
- distresses1×
- distress1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πόνων1×
- πόνου1×
- πόνος1×
- πόνον1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 4:13
For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
This verse highlights the physical and spiritual exhaustion Epaphras endures through his dedicated service to other churches.
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Revelation of John 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”
Here the word signifies the final removal of all suffering, marking the complete restoration of creation.
-
Revelation of John 16:10
The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain,
The term describes the severe anguish experienced during divine judgment, contrasting earthly pain with God's ultimate peace.